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Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 9:02 am
by Tarzan
Headlights on normal all the time day or night. I don't think I've ever used high beam - it would just annoy other road users too much.

Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 9:12 am
by iwannadie
my high beam is amazingly bright so i dont think using it in the day is a good idea. ive used it a few times at night when alone on the road it surprises me every time just how much brighter the highbeam is.

Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 9:14 am
by JustJames
I always have my high beam on in day time and low beam night time unless there is no traffic around me. I also have my friend drive in a car in front of me and see if the light both high and low beam bother her and she said no.

BTW, I always use low beam when group riding since very often time the bikes in front will look in rear view mirror.

Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 10:21 am
by 9000white
i use low beam all the time except at night on a lightly traveled road.when i meet someone with bights on in daytime it hurts my eyes.i have weak eyes to accompany my weak mind.

Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 12:05 pm
by Mer
We were taught in the MSF class to ride with the High beams on during the day. MUCH more visible than the low beams.

Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 1:19 pm
by iwannadie
Mer wrote:We were taught in the MSF class to ride with the High beams on during the day. MUCH more visible than the low beams.
im still not sure if its safer, people see the bright light and loose sight of the actual bike. also it might make it harder for them to judge your distance/speed. or they might think your trying to mess with them and get mad and drive aggressive.

seems theres alot of goods and bads with high beam. im going to stick with no high beam though if just to save on my battery

Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 3:23 pm
by Loonette
Mer wrote:We were taught in the MSF class to ride with the High beams on during the day. MUCH more visible than the low beams.
Interesting - it was in my MSF course that they warned against using high beams during the day, and no where in my MSF handbook does it recommend this practice. Perhaps your instructor was inserting his/her personal preference in the matter. Or perhaps they've changed their stance on the matter in the last 18 months? It sucks when one organization (or its representatives) is advising differently on a safety issue.

Cheers,
Loonette

Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 3:30 pm
by Mer
Well...I'll have to go check my book, but I do remember them telling us that since alot of cars now have their lights come on automatically bikes were even harder to see. He recommended brights for visiblility. I will continue running brights for that reason. (BTW...I took the MSF 3 years ago)

I know when I'm in a car I notice the bikes with the really bright lights much more than the ones running regular lights.

Per my MSF student workbook:

Under visibility:

"Headlight-ride with your headlight on high beam during the daytime." "You might consider a modulator that pulses your headlight during the daylight hours."

Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 10:51 pm
by grussem
I was also taught to ride with my highbeams on during the day, and this is something I continue to do. It just makes sense to be more visible. It is only at night that high beams ever blinded or bothered me.

Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:59 pm
by Telesque
Mer wrote:Per my MSF student workbook:

"You might consider a modulator that pulses your headlight during the daylight hours."
I absolutely cannot stand these things.

Cars with these drive me totally batty, and I can't seem to focus around them (or, really, on anybut but them). If having one on my bike causes the same effect on a cager as they do on me, it'd be more of a safety issue than a safety device. :roll: